Baltimore boy selected for White House science fair

Jacob Leggette garners attention with 3D design, printing ability

It's a love for innovation and 3D printing that's taking one Baltimore kid to some very high places. A year ago, 9-year-old Jacob Leggette wrote letters to various 3D printing companies offering his feedback on their products. In return, one sent him his very own printer. Now, Leggette has attracted attention from the White House.

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A year ago, 9-year-old Jacob Leggette wrote letters to various 3D printing companies offering his feedback on their products.

In return, one sent him his very own printer.

Now, Leggette has attracted attention from the White House.

Those who know Leggette said he is making his mark one design at a time.

"Jacob signed up for one of our summer camps, our 3D printing summer camp and through there he just really took to 3D printing," said Shawn Grimes, executive director of the Digital Harbor Foundation. "He was kind of an extra staff member in the room helping out all the other kids."

Now that ambition is taking Leggette all the way to Washington, D.C., for President Barack Obama's final White House science fair.

Hyper or not, Leggette makes the 3D printing process look cool. It all starts with a design on a computer.

"You can stretch shapes out for it to make a bigger shape," Leggette said.

Then it becomes a reality and he makes it work for him, putting together a whole display of his creations that are all science fair ready.

One of Leggette's creations is a "Beauty and the Beast" castle he printed for his mother because it is her favorite Disney movie. His mother said that what her son has accomplished in his young life is the real fairy tale.

"He's such a helpful person so for him to be validated … it's just too much to even put into words," said Stephanie Leggette, Jacob's mother.